We are pleased to announce that a senior at St. Francis High School has been named as a Semi-Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Competition. To become a Semi-Finalist the student must score amongst the top 1% of the 1.5 million juniors who entered the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2013 PSAT exam. Our National Merit Semi-Finalist for 2015 is Margaret Kliebhan. Margaret will continue in the scholarship competition. National Merit Finalists will be announced in February.

Blessings to you and yours,

Raeann Huhn

Principal

St. Francis High School

2014 AP Scholar Awards

Congratulations to the following current and former St. Francis students who were recently designated to receive AP Awards for their performance on Advanced Placements exams in spring of 2014. Fifty three students received AP Awards for 2014 testing.

AP SCHOLAR

These 30 students have received grades of at least 3 or better on three or more AP Exams.

Homecoming Week starts on Monday, September 15th and ends with the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, September 20th.

GUIDELINES: Be sure to check whether your daughter can sit, walk, and dance in the dress and that the dress is of an appropriate length and cut. The dance is a lot more fun when the dress fits comfortably! All dresses must be longer than the fingertips when (with shoulders relaxed) placed at their sides. The dress may not be skin tight and may not "ride up" when moving around. If your daughter has to pull down her dress to meet this guideline, please chose another dress. Dresses should not be low cut and should cover midsections. Students not wearing a proper dress will be escorted to a classroom in order to call home and have proper clothing brought to them. They will wait in this classroom until proper clothing arrives or 9:30 p.m. (dance officially ends at 10 p.m., but students can leave at 9:30) whichever comes first. Additionally, shoes must be worn at all times during the dance. She may bring a second pair of more comfortable shoes to change into after pictures if you prefer!

In conjunction with Homecoming Week, Student Government is holding a Diaper Drive to benefit the People's Resource Center. Collection boxes will be placed in each Homeroom and in the Main Office. The collection concludes at the end of Homecoming Week on September 19. PRC is most in need of the larger sizes of diapers (sizes 4, 5 and 6) and pull-ups. Please keep this in mind when purchasing for the drive. Winning homeroom will receive an out of uniform day!

Homecoming t-shirtshave been ordered and will be delivered in homerooms on Thursday during Homecoming.

The Bank Restaurant at 121 W. Front Street, Wheaton, IL, will be offering our student body a Homecoming Dinner Special again this year.

This is an all-inclusive dinner package which includes: Appetizer, Dinner Entree, Dessert, Beverage, Tax and Gratuity. Please see attached menu. (Link to Special Homecoming Menu). Students may call 630-665-2265 to make a reservation; they should please mention their school and the Homecoming Dinner Special.

Your child has a new class color! During Homecoming Week (and several other days during the year) there are "class color" days, in which each student needs to wear a shirt that is their class color if they want to be out of uniform. As you are out shopping, keep an eye out for a shirt that your son or daughter would like to wear on these class color days.

Freshman - YellowSophomore - RedJunior - GreenSenior - Blue

25th Annual St. Francis High School Alumni, Friends and Family Golf Outing

The 25th Annual St. Francis High School Alumni, Friends and Family Golf Outing is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 19 at Arrowhead in Wheaton. Please visit the St. Francis High School website for more information and to register to play, sponsor or volunteer at this event. Raffle tickets (for a chance to play one of seven premier golf courses in Illinois) may also be purchased online.

The Alumni Homecoming Mass & Breakfast is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 21 at 9:00 am here at St. Francis High School. The 2014 Distinguished Alumni will be presented with their awards following Mass. All are welcome to celebrate with the Alumni Association. Please visit the St. Francis High School website for more information and to purchase tickets for breakfast.

Notes from the Nurse:

If your student has fall allergies it's time to have those OTC medications ready or prescriptions filled.

Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis, affects an estimated 40% of children in the US and leads to more than 2 million missed school days annually. Allergies begin when trees, flowering plants, grasses and weeds release pollen. Molds which grow in soil, vegetation and rotting wood can cause allergic symptoms when they become airborne.

Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, congestion, cough, sinus pressure, watery eyes, as well as itchy eyes, nose and throat. These are the primary symptoms. Additionally people with severe allergies can experience other systemic complaints such as fatigue, irritability, and inability to think clearly. For those with asthma these allergens can trigger typical asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and cough.

Is it a cold or is it allergies? Most colds go away after 7-10 days, while allergy symptoms can last for weeks or months. If there is low grade fever and achy feeling it is probably a cold. Allergies usually produce a thin watery, clear nasal discharge while a cold produces a thick yellow nasal discharge. Symptoms range from minor temporary inconveniences to severe symptoms which affect day-to-day activities. Click here to read about treatment options.

The reserved parking spots are for the families designated on the sign. Many of these spots are reserved for all school activities at all times during the 2014-15 school year. Please respect their space.

Please use caution when driving on campus the speed limit is 10MPH, most accidents can be avoided if we slow down.

The Handicap parking spots are only for vehicles with a handicap placard, your vehicle may be ticketed if you park or pull into a Handicap spot.

It is against Illinois law for anyone to operate a hand held device in a school zone.

If your child has a parking spot on campus, please place the sticker in the rear window.

If your child parks at Target, please remind them to cross with the police or at the corner light.

If your child parks at Target and has an after school activity, please remind them to cross with the police or at the corner light and drive their vehicle to St. Francis and park on campus.

All parking lot accidents should be reported to the Wheaton Police and the Dean of Students, Ken Burke.

Tuition Raffle

Early Bird Drawing!

One of the raffle tickets passed out at Curriculum Night will be drawn for the $2,500 Early Bird Winner on 10/15! Will it be yours?Purchase online from the SFHS website, or send in a check and related stubs to the school office for a chance to WIN 2015-16 SFHS TUITION for one student, equivalent college tuition or $10,000 Cash!

15 Ticket for $200, 6 Tickets for $100, 1 Ticket for $20

The Grand Prize will be drawn at the annual auction on Saturday, March 7th. Winner need not be present to win. All raffle prizes are subject to state & federal taxes.

This Educational Rebate Program allows our school to collect Ultra Food receipts from September 1 through May 31st and receive 5% cash back of our total receipts collected. Please shop at Ultra Foods (Participating Stores: Wheaton, Lombard, Downers Grove, Hanover Park) and return your receipts to the drop off box located in the Main Office.

Service Opportunities

NEDA Walk

On Sunday, September 14, the National Eating Disorders Association is hosting a fundraising walk in Chicago. Earn service hours by being a student volunteer at the event! Transportation is provided, and registration is only $15. See KRas in Room 1207 for details and a permission slip.